Eastern Upper Peninsula Power Reigns in Girls Distance Races
By
John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com
May 8, 2025
PICKFORD — Girls distance runners don’t have to look far to find competition in the Eastern Upper Peninsula.
That’s especially true in Division 3, where Pickford junior Talya Schreiber is setting the pace.
Last fall, Eastern U.P. runners grabbed the top four places at the U.P. Division 3 Cross Country Final at Munising. Schreiber won that race for the first time in 2023, followed by Newberry’s Samantha and Abby Taylor, then retained her title in October.
Abby Taylor was runner-up, with Samantha placing third and Engadine eighth-grader Molly NcNamara taking fourth in that most recent championship race.
“I started at a younger age,” Schreiber said after the Web Morrison Invite at Pickford on April 26. “I ran my first cross country meet in sixth grade. That was definitely a learning curve, but I got hooked on that feeling. The first meet went well.
“Once I got into seventh grade, I knew I wanted to make a future of it. In my freshman year, we moved from Cedarville to Pickford. It was quite an adjustment with new coaches and athletic program and being a bigger school.”
Schreiber won three individual events April 12 at the Yooper Indoor Invitational at Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie. She was clocked at 2:30.64 in the 800-meter run and took the 1,600 (5:15.55) and 3,200 (11:16.96), well ahead of her nearest competitor, Escanaba senior and Northern Michigan University recruit Alisha Mabie.
“That was a good experience,” Schreiber said. “Alisha is doing real well.
“After cross country, I started my track and field training. Every week I worked out at the LSSU track. I’m hoping to break five minutes in the 1,600 and go under 11 in the 3,200.”
At Pickford, Schreiber again posted winning times in the 800 (2:30.32), 1,600 (5:21.49) and 3,200 (11:27.79).
Abby Taylor was runner-up in the 400 (1:09.6) and 800 (2:41.01) and Samantha took second in the 1,600 (5:31.77) and 3,200 (11:52.25).
“Abby and Sam are good athletes,” Schreiber said. “They push me and it results in better times, and Molly is going to be something special. Sam ran a nice 3,200 on our track, and Abby had some nice races.”
The Taylor sisters dominated last Thursday’s Rapid River Invitational, placing 1-2 in the 3,200. Samantha won in 12:12.59, and Abby was runner-up (12:29.35) in a steady cold rain.
Sam also won the 1,600 (5:28.44) and Abby finished first in the 800 (2:26.45). Both were also part of the winning 3,200 relay (10:39.42).
“It’s a family tradition,” Abby Taylor said. “I became interested in eighth grade. I knew it was something I wanted to do. There’s a lot more competition in our area. Although anywhere you go, you have competition.”
She said she trains about 30-40 miles a week.
“Running with these girls in cross country was good preparation for track,” she added. “Running with Talya helps a lot. She makes you better, and Molly draws the best out of you. Molly has a good future.”
They also train together quite often.
“We push each other in practice,” Samantha said. “I try to give Abby advice. She sometimes has a problem with that, but I see the potential in her. I want to see her do well.
“Talya is also a very good runner. We look up to her, and Molly is really good. We enjoy the competition.”
How did the Taylors overcome the elements at Rapid River?
“We went inside the school to do some stretching and stay warm between races,” Abby said. “Our team did really well. … The distances are a big part of our team.”
McNamara, who’s still doing middle school track, could compete with the varsity at the Regional at Rapid River on May 14. Engadine is headed to St. Ignace for an invitational tonight.
Newberry travels to Munising for Friday’s ‘Under the Lights’ Invitational.
John Vrancic has covered high school sports in the Upper Peninsula since joining the Escanaba Daily Press staff in 1985. He is known most prominently across the peninsula for his extensive coverage of cross country and track & field that frequently appears in newspapers from the Wisconsin border to Lake Huron. He received the James Trethewey Award for Distinguished Service in 2015 from the Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.
PHOTOS Pickford's Talya Schreiber leads Ishpeming's Lola Korpi on the way to winning the 1,600 during last season’s Upper Peninsula Division 2 Finals. (Middle) Newberry's Samantha Taylor leads sister Abby Taylor during last season’s 1,600 championship race in Division 3. (Photos by Cara Kamps.)
Elk Rapids' Schulte Sisters Splitting Finals Weekend Between Tennis, Track
By
Tom Spencer
Special for MHSAA.com
June 2, 2023
Today began with a bye for Elk Rapids’ Jaida and Brynne Schulte as the Elks returned to the Lower Peninsula Division 4 Girls Tennis Finals in Kalamazoo.
They’re planning to say bye to their tennis teammates, though, when the first day of competition is over. The Elks will have to advance to Saturday without them.
That goodbye is just fine with tennis coach Keith Schulte. And, it will be more than fine with the Elk Rapids track & field team – which will be happy to say hello to the sister pair as they head to their LPD3 Finals in Kent City.
Regardless of how they fare today, the Schulte sisters will run Saturday.
Coach Schulte, who teaches strength and conditioning at Elk Rapids, is also the father of Jaida and Brynne. Today’s he’s beaming with pride, and not just for his tennis team’s success. He’s proud of all the student-athletes and their successes this spring, including the girls soccer team moving on to Regionals with a 2-0 win Thursday over Boyne City.
And while all this is going on, he should have a moment or two to just be Dad. Jaida and Brynne teamed up to win the No. 2 doubles title at their Regional as the Elks tied for first place with Traverse City St. Francis two weeks ago. Then the Schulte girls captured first place in the Regional track meet to qualify for Saturday’s Finals. Brynne won the 1,600 and 3,200, and Jaida’s 3,200 relay team took first to move on.
Coach Schulte hasn’t had much time to pause and soak in the moment of his daughters’ qualifying for two Finals competitions during the same season.
“I didn’t think much of it until now,” the fourth-year coach said. “I’ve always just challenged my kids to do something difficult and not be scared to fail.
“They’ve just kind of found the balance on making this stuff happen,” he continued. “It is a pretty cool opportunity if you can go to two state championships.”
Getting to today’s Tennis Finals is a story full of success. The Elks’ first year under Schulte was halted after a week of practice due to the pandemic. The second year saw the team looking at a season with just nine potential players, but recruitment efforts resulted in the 2021 Elks managing to qualify for the Finals for the first time in their history.
Elk Rapids went on to win the Regional championship in 2022. And then, after graduating six athletes, the Elks were able to repeat this spring with a valiant effort resulting in the co-championship with their conference rival St. Francis.
Dual-sport standouts, while rare, aren’t entirely unheard of – especially at the state’s smaller schools where athletes frequently are needed to fill rosters in multiple sports during the same season. In fact, the Schultes aren’t even alone on their tennis team – sisters Ryleigh and Haleigh Yocum also are playing doubles today but softball on Saturday.
The Yocums won the Regional title at No. 2 doubles and also are slated to be the Elks’ first two batters as they take on Mancelona as one of the favorites to win a Division 3 District title on the softball diamond.
“I do feel bad for them – it’s states,” said 14-year veteran softball coach Erin Merchant. “I do want them to have that opportunity.
“I hope they go far,” she continued. “But then deep down, I’m like, ‘We need them Saturday.’”
Tim Nance and Jesse Way are in their first year co-coaching the boys and girls track teams at ER. They’re pleased the Schultes are prioritizing track while enjoying tennis.
“I think it is remarkable how resilient, laid back and casual the girls are about their success,” Nance said. “I would say it hasn’t compromised their talent, hard work and success.
“I think it has worked out great,” he continued. “I am selfish and I want them to myself only, but I am happy they can have two successes.”
The Elks will have Ayva Johnstone at No. 1 singles, Kelly Minidis and No. 2, Morgan Bergquist at No. 3 and Jasmine King at No. 4 this weekend. They also will have No. 1 doubles Chloe Taylor and Caroline Best and No. 4 doubles Tessa Nico and Portia Beebe, in addition to the Yokums and Schultes.
Jaida Schulte is a junior. She’s one of the recruits who joined to help the Elks get to their first Tennis Finals in 2021. Bergquist and Beebe were recruits in 2022.
Tennis is the favorite sport today for those three, but track and cross country are right up there for Jaida thanks to the opportunity to run with her freshman sister Brynne.
Jaida is hoping to at least match her personal-record split of 2:36 in the 3,200 relay Saturday. But her goal was first to win all of her doubles matches Friday and see the tennis team finish top-five in its division.
“Brynne loves track, and I love the challenge of running,” Jaida said. “I don’t think I would have the experience of running track or cross country without Brynne.”
Coaches saw very little disruption, if any, with their track, softball and tennis teams this spring with the Yocums and Schultes dual-sporting. The Schultes were able to get track and tennis practice or competition most every day.
“I prioritized track,” Brynne said. “I also got a lot of hitting time in for tennis.
“I would go to track practice first, and as soon as I would be done I would run over to the tennis courts and hit with my sister for a half an hour before going home,” she continued. “It has been worth it.”
Tom Spencer is a longtime MHSAA-registered basketball and soccer official, and former softball and baseball official, and he also has coached in the northern Lower Peninsula area. He previously has written for the Saginaw News, Bay County Sports Page and Midland Daily News. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Manistee, Wexford, Missaukee, Roscommon, Ogemaw, Iosco, Alcona, Oscoda, Crawford, Kalkaska, Grand Traverse, Benzie, Leelanau, Antrim, Otsego, Montmorency, Alpena, Presque Isle, Cheboygan, Charlevoix and Emmet counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Elk Rapids sisters Brynne (left) and Jaida Schulte have teamed up at No. 3 doubles for the tennis team this season. (Middle) Brynne Schulte sets to start a track relay. (Below) The Schultes helped the Elks to their first two Regional titles in tennis, including their second straight this spring. (Photos courtesy of Jaclyn Schulte.)